The Federal Government has released eight months of Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CONTA) arrears to non-academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, covering January to August 2026.
The announcement was made by Education Minister Tunji Alausa on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding payment of outstanding entitlements and warning of a possible indefinite strike.
Key Highlights
- FG has released eight months of CONTA arrears covering January to August 2026.
- The payment affects non-academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
- Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced the release after SSANU issued a 14-day ultimatum.
- SSANU had threatened a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike” if its demands were not addressed.
- The Federal Government previously released eight months of CATA arrears to academic staff.
- SSANU says some outstanding demands, including withheld salaries and percentage salary arrears, remain unpaid.
- The latest payment is expected to ease tensions but may not completely avert a fresh industrial dispute.
FG Pays January-August 2026 CONTA Arrears
The Federal Government’s latest payment covers the January to August 2026 period for CONTA, an allowance paid to non-academic personnel in federal tertiary institutions.
Announcing the release, Alausa said the payment demonstrated the administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in Nigeria’s education sector.
He also acknowledged the importance of non-academic personnel in maintaining the day-to-day operations of tertiary institutions.
According to the minister, addressing workers’ welfare concerns would help promote industrial harmony and reduce disruptions to the academic calendar.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press, Boriowo Folasade.
Payment Comes After SSANU 14-Day Ultimatum
The CONTA payment came shortly after SSANU’s 56th National Executive Council meeting at the University of Uyo, where the union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
The union demanded immediate implementation and funding of the 2026 federal agreement, including outstanding arrears under the Consolidated University Teaching and Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS).
SSANU warned that failure to meet its demands within 14 days would lead to a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike” without further notice.
The union’s demands extend beyond the newly released CONTA arrears.
SSANU Still Demands Outstanding Payments
While confirming the release of the eight-month CONTA arrears, SSANU President Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim welcomed the Federal Government’s response.
Ibrahim commended Alausa for acting on the government’s commitment and said the quick response demonstrated the importance of constructive engagement between government and workers’ unions.
However, SSANU has not withdrawn the remaining demands contained in its ultimatum.
The union says two months of salaries withheld during the 2022 strike and arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases remain outstanding.
This means the CONTA payment does not represent a complete settlement of all the financial issues raised by SSANU.
FG Previously Released CATA Arrears
The latest payment follows a similar intervention for academic staff.
In September, the Federal Government announced the release of eight months of Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) arrears to academic workers.
At the time, Alausa said outstanding allowances for non-academic staff would follow within weeks.
The release of CONTA arrears therefore fulfils part of that commitment and extends the government’s payments to another category of tertiary institution workers.
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SSANU Strike Threat Remains a Concern
Despite the latest payment, the possibility of industrial action has not been completely eliminated because several issues raised by SSANU remain unresolved.
The union’s 14-day ultimatum was issued over a broader set of financial obligations, rather than CONTA alone.
The Federal Government will therefore need to address the outstanding salary and allowance claims before the deadline expires if it wants to prevent another disruption across federal tertiary institutions.
The development is particularly significant because previous strikes by university-based unions have disrupted academic activities and affected students nationwide.
Payment Sparks Debate Over Government Response
The speed of the CONTA payment has also generated debate over the relationship between government and labour unions.
Some commentators questioned why workers had to issue a strike threat before outstanding payments were released.
Others welcomed the development as evidence that dialogue between the government and unions can produce quick solutions when followed by concrete action.
However, the key issue for SSANU remains whether the Federal Government will resolve the other outstanding components of its demands.
What the CONTA Payment Means for Federal Tertiary Institutions
The release of the eight-month allowance arrears provides financial relief for non-academic staff across federal tertiary institutions.
It could also reduce immediate tension between the Federal Government and SSANU.
However, the payment should not be interpreted as a full clearance of SSANU’s outstanding claims.
The unresolved issues include withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and arrears linked to the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
Whether those payments are addressed before the union’s ultimatum expires could determine whether federal universities and other affected institutions remain open or face another round of industrial action.
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